Theatre Review - LUCKY NUMBERS - PEOPLE'S THEATRE - NEWCASTLE

A play by Mike Yeaman, Lucky Numbers takes us on a hilarious romp through the various mishaps of a family after matriarch Nana wins the lottery. Everyone has their own opinions on how to spend the money but Nana isn’t sure she wants to cash in her ticket yet. As Nana seems more and more muddled by life, the family begin to wonder if they will ever get the money. It’s a hilarious and enriching show that will leave you wondering what you would do. 

Director Ian Willis has created a show full of fun and laughs that keeps you engaged through each ludicrous turn. Stewart Dives’ set design brings you into a typically miss-matched family living room, setting the scene for family drama. Sound design by Mike Cornish and Lighting Design by Claire Brissenden gave a fun feeling to the show and helped keep the correct tone for the piece. Annie Elizabeth Cairns played Janice, Nana’s exasperated daughter, as she tries to care for her mum. Pete McAndrew is Ronnie, Janice’s lacklustre husband who through the course of the show becomes a new man. Declan Marshall plays the lazy son, Steven, who’d much rather stay in and play his computer games than go out, while Emma Cockburn was simply magnificent as the ditzy misunderstood daughter Lisa. Mark Buckley played family friend Mick and Jack Stuart was Shane, Lisa’s ex-boyfriend, who both end up caught in the family’s shenanigans.

At the eleventh hour, Rhiannon Wilson set aside her duties as Assistant Director and took on the role of Nana. It is true testament to the dedication of all working on the production that the show continued on joyfully. Nana was fantastically funny. It’s a very fun show that leaves you chuckling.

Lucky Numbers is on at the Peoples Theatre from until the11^th March.